Alright, I'm posting this for some fun theological *** philosophical debate, NOT for flaming. Please be kind to everyone involved. Here goes:
No global miracles have occurred since the composition of the books of the Bible into their current anthologic form. A "global miracle" is one that everyone is witness to, like the plagues against Egypt (where "all Egypt" saw them and knew God was angry), or Jesus feeding millions with one loaf of bread, etcetera.
Assuming God exists, does this mean God has gone silent? If so, why? Jack Miles had a really interesting theory relating to God's acceptance of his ultimate reflection in Job, but I'd rather hear your theories. Who's first?
muichimotsu2008-12-12T20:33:52Z
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I'd prefer to think God is either dead (Nietzsche) or is purposely absent from existence for a period apparently (Heidegger). Either way I'm fine, as long as when God comes back, he's not on a bender or something.
Well this will be purely what I believe not nessecarly fact. I think God is very active today, but on a differently level. The last "global miracle" of God happened in the book of Acts with the death of Herod:
Acts 12:22-24 "They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died."
or at least from what I can remember. I believe that God is more active in the individual life than in the global world, God sent Jesus so that we could have a relationship with God directly. Before, the only way to God was through a high priest, but Jesus was a high priest (Hebrews) and when we are baptized into Jesus, we are forgiven of our sins, God then sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). For before Jesus was sacrificed God lived in the ark of the covenant in the temple. After, the death and resureciton of Jesus, God can now live within us. So, I believe that God works in my life everyday, because God lives in me and I can have a direct relationship with God, I don't have to go through a priest. Which brings a new posibility for life. I also think that through the power of prayer that God has shown "global miracles."
I don't think there ever have been any "world-wide" miracles; the Egyptian thing with Moses was only Egypt; all of Africa, the Orient and Ancient America missed it. Jesus fed only a few thousand, not "millions", and it also was local; Jerusalem, only. We must remember God speaks with a "Still, small voice", and He wants us to make an effort to hear Him. A lot of His "speaking" is personal; "ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, seek and ye shall find" was said to the individual, not to the whole. Lastly, all three "book-based" religions claim God has quit speaking. The Jews say it ended with the Torah, Christians say with the New Testament, and Muslims with the Koran. God doesn't speak through any of these groups for the simple reason they all say He's done talking. There must be a "stirring below before there's a stirring above"; we must seek Him, we must initiate the conversation. God isn't speaking to you? You have to start the conversation, then He'll step in, but remember: a "still, small voice." Listen carefully. But, bear in mind, you're His child, He loves you, and wants this dialogue probably much more than you do.
No, God is not silent. Neither has He gone anywhere. Lets start with our solar system. What God creates, He also maintains. We are the only planet in our solar system, perfectly fashioned and positioned to support life. The temperature in space is absolute zero, which is something like -400 F. But, here we are with a perfect amount of heat, water, atmosphere. Everything we need, every day.
The birth of a child.
Ever see a child takes its first steps? I understand that several trigonometric functions must take place in a microsecond in the human mind for the child to take one step. Several more if it goes uphill. That's a miracle.
Ever cut your finger? Notice how quickly the body heals itself? Is that not a miracle?
How about the devoted love of a married couple for 60+ years, from the heart! Another miracle.
The dramatic miracles you speak of, they are prophesied future events when Jesus Christ returns. There will be signs in the heavens and in the earth. However, this will not be a very pleasant time. This will culminate in the reign of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Another miracle.
No it doesn't. It means Jesus did what he had to do when he was here, and this is where we've chosen to take the world. God gives us free will, remember, and we do what we want. He doesn't just create global miracles every other year. They have happened, in Hurricane Katrina, in the tsunami a few years ago, and it happens to everyday people all the time. So no, he hasn't because he's leading people every day, including me.